Fluid dispensing apparatus and method

Abstract

A fluid dispenser and method of operating the same. The fluid dispenser can include a wheel driven by diluent passing along a flow path in the fluid dispenser. The wheel can be connected to a pump to pump fluid from a reservoir for dispense into the diluent. In some embodiments, the ratio of wheel rotations to pump cycles is selected to provide a desired and repeatable dilution ratio of concentrated fluid to diluent. The fluid dispenser can be portable and/or disposable, and in some embodiments is adapted for installation on an upper rim of a reservoir wall. Also, the fluid dispenser can be provided with a baffle limiting the velocity and impact of incoming diluent to the wheel driving the pump, thereby improving dosing accuracy of the dispenser in some embodiments.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A portable fluid dispensing apparatus for dispense of a fluid into a diluent and configured to be supported on an upper rim of a reservoir wall, the dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a housing; 
 an inlet into which diluent is configured to flow into the housing; 
 an outlet from which diluent is configured to exit the housing; 
 a first flow path extending through the housing along which diluent is configured to flow from the inlet to the outlet; 
 a fluid reservoir within the housing, the fluid reservoir configured to support a chemical concentrate, and the fluid reservoir in fluid communication with a second flow path along which chemical concentrate is configured to be dispensed; and 
 an attachment device defining a bearing surface oriented to contact and shaped to connect to the reservoir wall and to support the dispensing apparatus on the upper rim of the reservoir wall, 
 wherein a portion of the housing is disposed below the attachment device in an installed position of the dispensing apparatus on the reservoir wall, 
 wherein dispense of diluent and chemical concentrate from the dispensing apparatus includes partially or fully mixed diluent and chemical concentrate, or unmixed diluent and chemical concentrate, and 
 wherein the housing defines a portable unit configured to be selectively mountable on and removable from the reservoir wall via the attachment device without the use of tools. 
 
     
     
       2. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment device includes an arm defining the bearing surface, wherein the arm is adjustable to different positions to receive reservoir walls of different sizes. 
     
     
       3. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes the attachment device and the attachment device has a protrusion, and wherein the bearing surface is a downwardly-facing surface of the protrusion in an installed position of the apparatus on the reservoir wall. 
     
     
       4. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment device is defined by a ledge of the housing, wherein the ledge is dimensioned to rest on the upper rim of the reservoir wall. 
     
     
       5. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment device has a hook-shaped portion defining a wall-receiving recess configured to receive the upper rim of the reservoir wall. 
     
     
       6. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the housing includes the attachment device and the attachment device is defined by a recess of the housing shaped to receive the reservoir wall. 
     
     
       7. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a wheel disposed in the housing and having a plurality of vanes, at least a portion of the wheel located within the first flow path and rotated by flow of diluent along the first flow path, wherein rotation of the wheel is configured to draw chemical concentrate from the fluid reservoir along the second flow path and to dispense chemical concentrate into the diluent flowing along first flow path. 
     
     
       8. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a pump coupled to the wheel and in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, the pump operable to pump fluid from the fluid reservoir responsive to rotation of the wheel. 
     
     
       9. The portable fluid dispensing apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein each rotation of the wheel is configured to dispense a predetermined amount of chemical concentrate corresponding to an amount of diluent passing the wheel along the first flow path. 
     
     
       10. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a wheel located exterior of the housing and having a plurality of vanes, at least a portion of the wheel located within the first flow path and rotated by flow of diluent along the first flow path, wherein rotation of the wheel is configured to draw chemical concentrate from the fluid reservoir along the second flow path and to dispense chemical concentrate into the diluent flowing along first flow path. 
     
     
       11. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is a monolithic portable unit and the fluid reservoir is permanently sealed against access to an interior of the fluid reservoir from a location exterior to the dispensing apparatus. 
     
     
       12. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a baffle upstream of the inlet and through which diluent flows to enter the inlet. 
     
     
       13. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the diluent and the chemical concentrate exit the outlet only via gravitational force. 
     
     
       14. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein flow of diluent along the first flow path is configured to draw chemical concentrate from the fluid reservoir along a second flow path that intersects the first flow path such that diluent and chemical concentrate are at least partially mixed at or upstream of the outlet. 
     
     
       15. A portable fluid dispensing apparatus for dispense of a fluid into a diluent and configured to be supported on an upper rim of a reservoir wall, the dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a housing; 
 an inlet into which diluent is configured to flow into the housing; 
 an outlet from which diluent is configured to exit the housing; 
 a flow path extending through the housing along which diluent is configured to flow from the inlet to the outlet; 
 a fluid reservoir within the housing, the fluid reservoir configured to support a chemical concentrate, and the fluid reservoir in fluid communication with a second flow path along which chemical concentrate is configured to be dispensed; and 
 an attachment device defining a bearing surface oriented to contact and shaped to connect to the reservoir wall and to support the dispensing apparatus on the upper rim of the reservoir wall, the bearing surface positioned below the outlet, 
 wherein a portion of the housing is disposed below the attachment device in an installed position of the dispensing apparatus on the reservoir wall, 
 wherein dispense of diluent and chemical concentrate from the dispensing apparatus includes partially or fully mixed diluent and chemical concentrate, or unmixed diluent and chemical concentrate, and 
 wherein the housing defines a portable unit configured to be selectively mountable on and removable from the reservoir wall via the attachment device. 
 
     
     
       16. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the attachment device includes a clamp arm. 
     
     
       17. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the clamp arm is adjustable to different positions to receive reservoir walls of different sizes. 
     
     
       18. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the clamp arm includes a mating ratchet and pawl mechanism. 
     
     
       19. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the housing includes the attachment device and the attachment device has a protrusion, and wherein the bearing surface is a downwardly-facing surface of the protrusion in an installed position of the apparatus on the reservoir wall. 
     
     
       20. The dispensing apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the attachment device is defined by a ledge of the housing, and wherein the ledge is dimensioned to rest on the upper rim of the reservoir wall. 
     
     
       21. A portable fluid dispensing apparatus for dispense of a fluid into a diluent and configured to be supported on an upper rim of a reservoir wall, the dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a housing; 
 an inlet into which diluent is configured to flow into the housing; 
 an outlet from which diluent is configured to exit the housing; 
 a first flow path extending through the housing along which diluent is configured to flow from the inlet to the outlet; 
 a fluid reservoir within the housing, the fluid reservoir configured to support a chemical concentrate, and the fluid reservoir in fluid communication with a second flow path along which chemical concentrate is configured to be dispensed; and 
 an attachment device defining a bearing surface oriented to contact and shaped to connect to the reservoir wall and to support the dispensing apparatus on the upper rim of the reservoir wall, 
 a wheel located exterior of the housing and having a plurality of vanes, at least a portion of the wheel located within the first flow path and rotated by flow of diluent along the first flow path, 
 wherein rotation of the wheel is configured to draw chemical concentrate from the fluid reservoir along the second flow path and to dispense chemical concentrate into the diluent flowing along the first flow path, 
 wherein dispense of diluent and chemical concentrate from the dispensing apparatus includes partially or fully mixed diluent and chemical concentrate, or unmixed diluent and chemical concentrate, and 
 wherein the housing defines a portable unit configured to be selectively mountable on and removable from the reservoir wall via the attachment device without the use of tools.